Starting-gate for race-tracks.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

C. E. FOULKS. STARTING GATE FOR'RAGE TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1 905 UNTTED STATES PATENT ounce.

STARTING-GATE FOR RACE-TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed July 3, 1905. Serial No. 268,181.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. FoULKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting-Gates for Race- Tracks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to starters for race tracks. One of its objects is to provide improved means for elevating the tape and arms when released.

Another object is to provide improved latch and trigger mechanism.

Another object is to provide improved and positive means for simultaneously releasing the arms at opposite sides of the track.

It further consists in certain details of form, combination, and arrangement, all of which will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device in position for use. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the arms in the raised position. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of one latch and trigger. Fig. A is a similar view of the opposite latch. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the cam-brake mechanism. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the post, showing a modified attachment for the supportingframes. Fig. 8 isafront elevation of the same.

A A represent posts permanently located at opposite sides of the track.

B B represent supporting-frames detachably mounted upon the posts by means of the loops or staples a and bars a entering slots 6 at the lower ends of the frames or, prefer ably, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by means of cross-bars 2, pivoted to brackets 3, secured to the posts A A. The bars 2 are provided with set-screws 4', the ends of which bear against lugs 5 of the brackets and serve to turn the frames B B so that the arms D D will travel in parallel lines. The bars a may be likewise but not as conveniently adjusted by means of washers or spacing-blocks 7 between the bars a and the posts.

At the upper ends of the frames are horizontal studs C C, upon which are journaled arms D D. The shanks cl d of the arms eX- ert a spring tension on the tape E to hold the same taut, which is preferably effected by forming loops CV in said shanks. At the opposite ends arms D D are provided with curved or cam-shaped projections F F, having grooved faces f f to receive the cords g g, which are attached to the arms near the journals of the arms and their free ends connected to the springs G G, which in turn are connected at their oppositeends to cords g 9 is drawn down and engages over a pin M,

which projects from the arm d and which pin is withdrawn from the ring when the latch is tripped and the arm D released. At the opposite end the cord L is attached to a springactuated lever N, which it holds in the raised or horizontal position as long as pin M and ring m are in engagement, but is thrown downward by its spring as soon as the ring is released. A pin n on the trigger J enters a segmental slot n in lever N, thus allowing considerable movement without releasing the v trigger J, which is important to prevent the accidental release of the trigger due to vibrations of the cord L. As soon as the ring m has been engaged with pin M the cord is drawn down at the opposite end, the trigger J adjusted to position, and the end of the cord drawn into the coils of spring 02 on the end of lever N, where it is tightly held, and lever N is free to move a limited distance without releasing trigger J. When ring m is released, the lever N pulls the cord through the pulleys and releases the trigger J, a stop n preventingthe cord being drawn too far. Thus the latch-barI and arm D are released almost simultaneously with the release of arm D.

In practice the arms are simultaneously brought down and latched by separate attendants and the cord and its adjuncts ,adjusted to position. It will be noted that the curved projections regulate the tension of the springs on the arms, so that the tension is greatest when the shanks are down and gradually decreases as they rise. The sleeves or journals a7 have cam-faces at d which engage corresponding cam-faces on the collars d when the shanks d d have nearly reached a vertical position above the studs C C and force the sleeves (Z endwise on the studs against the leather friction-disks R, thereby serving to bring the arms D D gently to a rest without undue strain, sudden jar, or noise, which would be liable to injure the apparatus or frighten the horses. The springarms P P also serve to engagethe cords g'g at the same time and assist in bringing the arms D D to rest. It will also be noted that the frames and operative parts may be readily detached from one set of posts and removed and quickly set upon other posts at any part of the track, as required.

What I claim is 1. In a starter, the detachable supportingframes carrying latch and trigger mechanism and horizontal studs, hubs journaled on said studs and provided with spring tape-carrying arms at one side to strain the tape and eccentrically-curved arms at the opposite side. and

tension-cords engaging said curved arms to rotate the hubs and lift the tape when the latches are released.

2. In a starter, supporting-frames at opposite sides of the track provided with latch mechanism and horizontal studs,tape-carrying arms journaled at an intermediate point on said arms to said studs, the ends of the arms at the opposite side of the journals from the tape being curved and recessed to retain the tension-cords, and tension-cords resting on said curved ends of the arms to rotate the arms and lift the tape when the latch is released.

3. In a starter, supporting-frames at opposite sides of thetrack provided with latch mechanism and horizontal studs, arms journaled on said studs with tape-carrying shanks adapted to engage the latch mechanism, means for turning said arms on their journals to raise the tape when the latch is released, faces adapted to frictionally engage each other to bring the arms to rest, and cam-faces adapted to force said faces into contact when it is desired to bring the arms to rest.

4. In a starter, supporting-frames at opposite sides of the track carrying latch mechanism and studs to receive the tape-carrying arms, arms journaled on said studs carrying a tape and adapted to be engaged by the latch mechanism a cord passing across the track from one latch mechanism to the other, one end of said cord being released by the withdrawal of a pin by the latch mechanism at one side of the track from an eye in the cord, and the opposite latch mechanism being released by the endwise movement of the cord.

5. In a starter in combination with supporting-frames and tape-carrying arms movable relative thereto, latch mechanisms to lock said arms in the lower position consisting of the recessed frame pieces, beveled latch bars adapted to automatically permit the passage of the arms in either direction over said latchbars, and triggers to engage and look the latch-bars in position to hold the arms, and

to be tripped to release the latch-bars when it is desired to operate the starter.

6. In a starter, a latch mechanism to release the distant tape-arm consisting of a latch-bar, a trigger to lock the latch-bar in position to hold the arm, a spring-actuated lever having a slot, and a pin projecting from the trigger through said slot.

7 In a starter, supporting-frames at opposite sides of the track having latch mechanism and horizontal studs, tape-carrying arms journaled on said studs and adapted to turn through an arc of substantially ninety degrees, said arms having their ends opposite to the tape eccentrically curved and channeled to retain the tension-cords, and tension-cords resting on said curved ends and adapted to rotate said arms when released by the latch.

8. In a starter, detachable supportingframes located at opposite sides of the track and provided with tape-carrying arms, and latch mechanism, said frames being secured to permanent posts by straps, and prevented from turning by slots in the frames engaging bars attached to the posts.

9. In a starter, supporting-frames at opposite sides of the track provided with latch mechanism and horizontal studs, arms journaled on said studs with. tape-carrying shanks at one end adapted to engage the latch mechanism and with curved projections at the opposite ends, tension-cords resting on said curved projections to rotate the arms and lift the tape when the latch is released, and stoparms adapted to strike and rest on said tension-cords to limit the motion of said arms.

10. In a starter, detachable supportingframes located at opposite sides of the track and provided with tape-carrying arms and latch mechanism, permanent posts to which said frames are detachably secured, and means for rotatively adjusting said frames relative to the posts to bring the arms into alinement.

11. In a starter, supporting-frames carryinglatch and trigger mechanism and horizontal studs, arms journaled on said studs having tape-carrying shanks and means for turning said arms on their journals to raise the tape when the latches are released, a cord leading from one trigger mechanism to the other, and

terminating at one end in a ring, a pin to engage the ring when the arm is latched in position, and mechanism to release the ring when the arm is unlatched.

12. In a starter, a near tape-arm to be directly released by the operator, a distant tapearm to be released simultaneously with the near tape-arm, a latch-bar to engage the distant tape-arm, a trigger to lock said latch-bar in position to hold said distant arm, a springactuated lever to release said trigger, a cord passing across the track and adapted to hold said spring-actuated lever oiit of contact with IIO tachable supporting-frames provided with members adapted to engage and interlock 10 with the members on the permanent posts,

said supporting-frames being provided with pivoted tape-carrying arms and latch mechanism therefor.

In testlmonywhereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. FOULKS.

Witnesses:

C. W. MILES, A. MoCoRMAoK. 

